Listen to BlackburnNews.com’s Adelle Loiselle for Five Questions With Katie Omstead.
[audio wav="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/FIVE-QUESTIONS-WITH-KATIE-OMSTEAD-LIB-CKL.wav"][/audio] --- Katie Omstead is a devoted public school educator. She’s also a proud co-ordinator of ONE, a community organization dedicated to the prevention of sexual exploitation, and the co-founder of Leamington Stands Strong, a movement focused on growing the local economy. Katie actively dedicates her time to her community, hosting fundraisers, coaching youth sports teams, and advocating for issues of social justice.
Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario, where she specialized in Political Science and International Development. While at UWO, Katie completed an internship in the offices of the Premier of Ontario and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Following her days at UWO, Katie attended the University of Waterloo in pursuit of her Masters of Arts. She completed her degree with multiple award distinctions, focusing her studies on Political Science. Katie spent time volunteering and teaching internationally before completing a Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa.
Katie has a deep affiliation with Amnesty International that has spanned over a decade. She’s held various positions within the organization, acting as a human rights college counselor, a delegate for an International Council Meeting, a coordinator for West Africa, and a fieldworker for Southwestern Ontario. Katie grew up in Wheatley and now calls Leamington home with her husband. --- Interesting riding facts:
- Riding was known as Kent-Essex in 1996, then Chatham-Kent-Essex in 1998 and now Chatham-Kent-Leamington
- Liberals secured the riding from 1997-2006, but Conservative Dave Van Kesteren has held the seat since then
- Riding includes Chatham-Kent south of the Thames River, Leamington and the Indian Reserve of Moravian 47
